About Our Team

Devon is a thirteen year ‘veteran’ of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Greater LA Healthcare System, where she rose in the ranks from HR assistant all the way to Interim Director of Employee & Labor Relations, supervising an HR team that oversaw more than 5,000 employees. She has a detailed knowledge of the in’s and outs of HR and labor laws and issues.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from UCLA, and an MBA from USC’s Marshall School of Business. She received her SPHR Certification in 2013.

Devon works on employee relations issues with our clients, as well as overseeing our Employee Handbook program.

Michelle Long
Senior HR Consultant

For more than 20 years, Michelle Long has worked in the Human Resources world in a variety of executive positions. Michelle works with many of our mid-sized clients as an acting HR Advisor. Before joining RSJ/Swenson in 2014, Michelle served in various HR roles on the East Coast, including positions as Vice President of Human Resources at Citigroup and Director of Human Resources at Mastercard and Bowne. She has a certification as a Career Transition Coach. Michelle is a proud graduate of the University of Oregon and has a Masters degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Patricia Ramirez PHR
Senior HR Consultant

Patty Ramirez has a diverse background in human resources, working in the manufacturing, retail, and hospitality high tech industries. She worked in employee relations at the famed Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. As a consultant she also has dealt with M & A’s. At RSJ/Swenson, she primarily works with our clients providing employee relations advice and counsel as well as conducting HR Compliance Audits. Patty is a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s College and is that rare HR professional who is also bilingual.

Kathy Spira
Senior HR Consultant

Kathy Spira has been an HR professional for more than 20 years. She began her career as an Benefits/Compensation Specialist at Sports Club Company, progressing to Director of HR there. She then became the HR Business Partner for the Western US at Lululemon Athletica, and the Director of Human Resources for Futuredontics (1-800-Dentist). Kathy has a bachelor’s degree from California State University Dominquez Hills, and an MBA from Loyola Marymount University, where she also graduated in their Human Resources Management Certificate Program. Kathy works with a variety of clients, providing key insights in compliance, recruiting and strategic advice.

Steven Springer, SPHR-CA, SHRM-SCP
Senior HR Consultant

Steven has 20 years of progressive human resources experience (Human Resources Generalist to Vice President of Human Resources). He has worked for Wells Fargo Bank, Fiserv, Inc., The Private Bank of California and Opera Mediaworks. While working at RSJ/Swenson he has consulted with multiple small to mid-size clients in their improvement, growth and for their ongoing HR support.

A graduate of the University of Colorado with Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Steven has designations of Senior Professional in Human Resources with a California specialty (SPHR-CA) and a Society of Human Resources Management – Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) with a Federal specialty. He has a Mediation certification from the Conflict Management Institute and is certified in Leadership Architect from Korn Ferry which deals with identifying and developing competencies from recruiting, onboarding, development and the overall life of the employee.

He is an active member of the Society of Human Resources Management and the Professional in Human Resources Association.

He also devotes time working pro bono for the Taproot Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides professional developmental grants to organizations working with social issues in the United States and International.

He is versed in regards to all HR disciplines and is tactical as well as strategic. He prides himself on applying best practices, developing infrastructures, re-defining cultures, which enhance work environments and allow companies to successfully move into the future.

Liza West
Human Resources Consultant

Liza West has worked in all aspects of HR, from administration to the executive level. She has developed and implemented HR departments for multiple companies. Prior to joining RSJ/Swenson, she was the HR Director at Atmosphere Creative, a branding and marketing corporation. She has served as the lead HR person at Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Universal Music Group, and Premiere Radio Networks

Liza works primarily with our monthly retainer clients, providing full-service HR support and advice to businesses of all sizes. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and received her certificate in HR Management from UCLA.

Audra Yeomans
Human Resources Consultant

Audra joined the RSJ/Swenson team after a nearly 20-year career in Human Resources that included stints in New York and Chicago. A New York native, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from the State University of New York at Oswego.

Audra was the HR Manager for MTV Networks for 7 years, then became an HR Business Partner at Dyson, focusing largely on recruiting. She continued her talent acquisition work at The Marketing Store in Chicago, the became an Executive Recruiter.

At RSJ/Swenson, Audra is responsible for Talent Acquisition (aka recruiting) for our clients in need of assistance, as well as working directly with several of our growing and high-tech clients.

Jamie Baker
Operations Manager

Jamie Baker has worked in operations for RSJ/Swenson since 2011. She works with our clients in the areas of payroll/HRMS implementation; screening and selection of job candidates; and oversees our HR AnswerPro® Program. Prior to RSJ/Swenson, Ms. Baker worked as a production manager for various entertainment production companies, which gave her the foundation to work with the varying needs of our clients. Ms. Baker is a graduate of Old Dominion University and lives with her husband in Studio City.

Tiffany Takemoto-Reyman
Administrative Coordinator

Tiffany provides administrative support to both our clients and internally. She coordinates job searches and employee engagement surveys for our clients as well as organizing RSJ/Swenson’s meetings and events.

Prior to joining RSJ/Swenson, Tiffany was the Exhibit and Public Programs Coordinator for the Natural Museum of Los Angeles County. She also worked in administrative capacities for Hershey Technologies and the American College of Surgeons in Chicago.

Tiffany graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Art History, and is a proud mom to two daughters.

Kirsten L. Hansen
Senior Associate

Kirsten Hansen received her undergraduate degree in English at Loma Linda University and her J.D. at the Glendale University College of Law. She became a certified paralegal in 1989 at UCLA. Ms. Hansen has worked as a paralegal at the Los Angeles-area law firms of Hillsinger & Costanzo; Knapp, Petersen & Clarke; Carl Sherriff & Associates, and at Stutman, Triester & Glatt. She was the Director of Legal Affairs at EarthLink Network, Inc. from 1996-2000, and was most recently Practice Development Manager at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.

Shana Merrill
Principal

Shana Merrill is a Partner at Rose, Snyder & Jacobs and Principal & CFO at RSJ/Swenson. She has been in public accounting for over 15 years, with a specialty in auditing and accounting services. Shana works with clients in every industry, from non-profits to publicly traded businesses. She graduated with a degree in Accounting from the University of Southern California and a very proud mother to two sons.

Tony A. Rose
Principal

Tony Rose is a founding partner of Rose, Snyder & Jacobs and principal at RSJ/Swenson. His client responsibilities include tax and management consulting advice to closely-held corporations, family owned businesses, partnerships and the high net worth individuals that own them.

Along with an uncommon passion for client-centered outcomes, Tony has over 30 years of experience working with businesses and their owners in numerous industry sectors. Not simply a tax accountant, Tony has extended his thought leadership to the challenges of managing and business and the people who work for and with them. He is the author of a blog called What We Should Be Doing where much of his philosophies are shared.

Tony is the author of two books, Say Hello To The Elephants and Five Eyes On The Fence. In both of these books, Tony shares his experiences with small and medium sized businesses along with insights those experiences have created.

Tony has been a Certified Kolbe Method™ Consultant for well over 10 years. Before bringing the power of the Kolbe Wisdom to his clients, he spearheaded the effort of his organization to fully embrace the use of this meaningful tool in hiring and management of their team.